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Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich second leg collective preview

By bayernstrikesstaff

MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 25: Franck Ribery of FC Bayern Muenchen is challenged by Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 25: Franck Ribery of FC Bayern Muenchen is challenged by Lucas Vazquez of Real Madrid during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg match between Bayern Muenchen and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena on April 25, 2018 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Boris Streubel/Getty Images) /
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Will Robert Lewandowski step up to the big occasion on Tuesday? (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Will Robert Lewandowski step up to the big occasion on Tuesday? (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Key Players

Benjamin Scott

If I thought he was for sure starting, I’d earmark Corentin Tolisso as a player to watch. Since it’s unlikely Coco gets the nod from the beginning, I’ll go with Robert Lewandowski. The Pole was decisive in the first leg, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

He was given chances to put his team ahead and didn’t capitalize on any of them. Tomorrow’s match is a great opportunity for him to improve his play and silence his naysayers, many of which are his club’s own fans.

On the opposite end of the field, it’s hard to look past Niklas Sule. The German giant has been in great form for Bayern recently, but faces his toughest match yet on Tuesday. Sule is seriously underrated, though, and is capable of going toe-to-toe with the best of them. He proved that over the course of his 60-odd minutes on the pitch last week, and I expect him to do that again tomorrow.

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Garett Kerber

Bayern needs goals. Someone has to produce enough to overcome the 2-1 deficit coupled with the away goals aspect. It has to be Robert Lewandowski, the man who has had some success against Real Madrid in the past.

He has found the back of the net six times in Champions League matches against Real Madrid, more than any other team. He has to find a way to translate his form from Bundesliga and international play to the Champions League. When Lewy is on, the whole Bayern squad is a finely tuned machine. In front of the Real Madrid faithful, he’ll be eager to show his merit. It’s time for Big Game Bobby Lew to become a thing, and not sarcastically. (I’ll accept the form if the name isn’t a winner).

Kiran Thakare

Bayern Munich created a lot of good chances against Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena. They need to become more efficient in the second leg. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller will be very crucial in the opponent’s box, especially Muller. The German has always been a clutch player for Bayern and Heynckes will be hoping he comes up with goods in this game.

Apart from those two attacking players, James Rodriguez will be vital player for Bayern. The Colombian has been in decent form recently, and by playing on the right flank he needs to come up with some pinpoint deliveries. Real Madrid have looked vulnerable on the backpost and James needs to target that. At the other end, Niklas Sule will be a player to watch as this is probably the biggest game of his career.